Beatitudes

Try to explain "The Beatitudes" from Matthew 5:3-12, to a group of kids ranging from K to 3rd grade.  As the substitute Sunday school teacher, I was a bit perplexed.  The word “beatitude” is never heard outside of the walls of a church except possibly in a theological discussion and being read from the Bible.  So, in preparation for Sunday School, I headed over to Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary to get a definition of the word “Beatitude”.  He defines it as: blessedness; felicity of the highest kind; consummate bliss; used of the joys of heaven.  Well, I will admit that “felicity” threw me because I thought that was a girl’s name.  Again, Noah defines “felicity” as happiness or great happiness, blissfulness, prosperity, enjoyment of good.  Who knew! 

Being a trained teacher, I showed the kids the word beatitude and the actual page from the 1828 dictionary and asked them what did the word make them think of?  Lucy, said, “Beautiful”.  I asked another student, Maverick, he said, “Attitude”.  Hmmm.  I asked Maverick where was his attitude and he said, “on the inside”.  Boom! It hit me square in the heart…beatitude is a beautiful attitude.  Out of the mouths of babes.  Oh, I know there is so much more you can unpack when discussing the beatitudes but how much simpler can you get than a beautiful attitude?  With that simple child-like description, go read Matthew 5:3-12 again.  If we all had a beautiful attitude, how much better off would the whole world be.  “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven…”  I pray you have a felicitous day.No no